Asia, Nepal, Annapurna Tragedy

Annapurna Tragedy. A 14-man South Korean team led by Ko Yong-Chul abandoned its attempt after two members and four Sherpa porters were killed by an avalanche on September 19. The Korean victims were Lee Sang-Gu and Lee Seok-Jee; the Sherpas were Dawa Sange, Norbu Jangbu, Lhakpa Tendi and Tenzing. Their Camp IV at 7500 meters was swept down the mountain. Two other Sherpas were carried down by the avalanche but managed to survive. One of them broke a leg and the other escaped with bruises. As they fell, Jin Ang-Sung was observing them with binoculars from Camp I at 5050 meters. Others in Camp III at 6900 meters knew nothing about it until a surviving Sherpa came down to report the accident. Yul Bae-Sung, who was at Camp III, rushed to the site but found only five bodies. The body of one Sherpa could not be traced. They were given a snow burial. The victims had hoped to make a summit bid the next day.